peterm1
Veteran
On a whim (how much has that phrase cost me?) yesterday I bought a Panasonic GX 7. I bought it partly for nostalgic reasons as one of my very early digital cameras was a Panasonic L1 in the original 4/3 configuration and I loved it. Though like many first loves it was flawed....... 
The GX7 looks and in some ways feels like an L1's baby grandson. Much smaller but the family resemblance it strong. But it was not all emotion - I have owned a few other Panasonic offering such as the GF 1 and have long admired the way these cameras perform and render.
I would be interested in hearing from others who have owned the Gx7 on thier thoughts and in seeing some examples of photos.
There is one oddity I have noticed with Panasonic cameras. Its not a biggie really but it is still a little confounding so i will raise it here, more or less in parenthesis. I have a couple of original 4/3 lenses including the 14-50mm f2.8 -3.5 Panasonic / Leica. I like to use this with a 4/3 to M4/3 adapter on my more recent M4/3 cameras. I could never get it to function at all on my Gf1 but it works perfectly with adapter on every Olympus M4/3 camera I have thrown at it. When I tried it on the GX 7 it kind of worked but not seamlessly. At first it did not work at all then somehow it started but seemed to under expose. Focus was slow but I expected this. And yet the other 4/3 lens I use in the same way - the 25mm f1.4 works perfectly on all Panasonic and Olympus M4/3 cameras I have tried it with. I wonder if anyone has ideas what is going on?
The GX7 looks and in some ways feels like an L1's baby grandson. Much smaller but the family resemblance it strong. But it was not all emotion - I have owned a few other Panasonic offering such as the GF 1 and have long admired the way these cameras perform and render.
I would be interested in hearing from others who have owned the Gx7 on thier thoughts and in seeing some examples of photos.
There is one oddity I have noticed with Panasonic cameras. Its not a biggie really but it is still a little confounding so i will raise it here, more or less in parenthesis. I have a couple of original 4/3 lenses including the 14-50mm f2.8 -3.5 Panasonic / Leica. I like to use this with a 4/3 to M4/3 adapter on my more recent M4/3 cameras. I could never get it to function at all on my Gf1 but it works perfectly with adapter on every Olympus M4/3 camera I have thrown at it. When I tried it on the GX 7 it kind of worked but not seamlessly. At first it did not work at all then somehow it started but seemed to under expose. Focus was slow but I expected this. And yet the other 4/3 lens I use in the same way - the 25mm f1.4 works perfectly on all Panasonic and Olympus M4/3 cameras I have tried it with. I wonder if anyone has ideas what is going on?
JP Owens
Well-known
I've owned the GX7 and have owned a GX8 since it came out. The GX8 is better optically, but I think the GX7 was a better camera all around, and am tempted to buy another one. Carried the GX7 everywhere, but usually grab the G85 instead of the GX8 when I head out. You will really enjoy that GX7.
No experience with adapted 4/3 lenses, though.
No experience with adapted 4/3 lenses, though.
Ken Davis
Member
I've taken thousands of photos with a GX7 with various zooms and fixed focal length lenses and found the camera is very effective. Bought a GX8 at a bargain price and I use it as I like the articulating rear screen and its larger size fits my big hands very well but I still use the GX7. The GX9 seems to combine the size of the 7 with updated GX8 specs? I do like Panasonic's micro 4/3 cameras having started with a G1.
al1966
Feed Your Head
I had a pair and regret selling them, used mostly with the 12-32mm pancake zoom and the Oly 25mm and 45mm pair. The camera I recall felt like a quality product but the lure of FF got me and got a Sony A7. I missed the small size of the m43 cameras, handy for when you want to carry less weight plus a lot of the lenses are good.
Yokosuka Mike
Abstract Clarity
I have a GX7. I use it mostly for travel. I only have two complaints:
1) The EVF is not up to par (IMO) with the optional EVF I have for my Panasonic GX1.
2) I wish the base ISO was 100 (or 50 would be even better) instead of 200.
All-in-all though I have to say it's a damn good camera.
Panasonic GX7 and Panasonic 12-35mm f2.8 zoom lens.
Panasonic GX7, Sigma 16mm f1.4 DC DN "Contemporary" lens
Sorry if this is sharing too much.
1) The EVF is not up to par (IMO) with the optional EVF I have for my Panasonic GX1.
2) I wish the base ISO was 100 (or 50 would be even better) instead of 200.
All-in-all though I have to say it's a damn good camera.
Panasonic GX7 and Panasonic 12-35mm f2.8 zoom lens.
Panasonic GX7, Sigma 16mm f1.4 DC DN "Contemporary" lens
Sorry if this is sharing too much.
peterm1
Veteran
Thanks folks for your responses and my apologies for being dilatory in mine - a busy few days. As a result I have also not had any chance to text the camera but here are a couple shot inside with from memory the Panasonic 25mm f1.4. So far , so good. In particular it seems to cope reasonably well with moderately high ISO settings (1600 ISO) and quite high contrast - unlike some M43 cameras which struggle.
traveler_101
American abroad
No, not really - though the Gx9 does have the 20mp sensor, it also has something much closer too the Gx7's viewfinder than the Gx8's.
traveler_101
American abroad
I have a GX7. I use it mostly for travel. I only have two complaints:
1) The EVF is not up to par (IMO) with the optional EVF I have for my Panasonic GX1.
2) I wish the base ISO was 100 (or 50 would be even better) instead of 200.
All-in-all though I have to say it's a damn good camera.
Panasonic GX7 and Panasonic 12-35mm f2.8 zoom lens.
Panasonic GX7, Sigma 16mm f1.4 DC DN "Contemporary" lens
Sorry if this is sharing too much.
Oh, these are wonderfully expressive shots! Thanks for sharing.